U.S. HALL O F F AME
A ‘MAGICAL’ NIGHT At each U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame
induction, there comes a moment when those be- ing honored look up at the arena crowd with the same expression: humility and awe. Te Class of 2015, inducted Jan. 23 during
the Prudential U.S. Championships in Greens- boro, North Carolina, was no different. Two- time Olympian and 1981 World silver medalist David Santee (outstanding competitor) and organizational innovator Anne Gerli (outstand- ing contributor, nonathletic) grew quiet as their moment drew near. Choreographer Ricky Harris (outstanding contributor, creative impact), who was unable to attend due to a recent hip replace- ment, relied on friends to share the experience. For the first time in the hall’s history, the
“Being inducted is the ultimate honor. It means that I have made a lasting contribution to our sport. It is an amazing fact that I am the fourth hall-of-famer in my era in the men’s
event. That is tough competition!” — DAVID SANTEE
inductees were escorted onto the ice by those who later would present them at a late-night recep- tion.
In Harris’ absence, Olympic champion
Scott Hamilton walked onto the ice in her honor. After receiving the hall-of-fame medal from U.S. Figure Skating President Samuel Auxier, Hamil- ton raised it to the video board, which featured a picture of a radiant Harris, who turns 93 this month. Hamilton, who earned the 1984 Olympic
gold medal with choreographer Harris and coach Don Laws at his side, simply said, “Tis is for
SANTEE, GERLI, HARRIS, INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME by BARB REICHERT
you, Ricky.” Later at the reception, Hamilton read Har-
ris’ acceptance speech, which in part said: “Re- cently, I realized that I have choreographed for a dozen skaters who are hall-of-famers; of course, this now includes David Santee. I have derived great pleasure from that, knowing a little part of me is with all of them.” Waiting for their turn in the off-ice shad-
ows, Sarah Hughes smiled fondly at Gerli. Hughes, who has known Gerli since she
was a little girl, offered her arm before the two stepped into the arena’s spotlight. As Gerli’s name was being announced, Hamilton walked to join Hughes in escorting the 92-year-old inductee — but Gerli would have none of it. Holding her head high, she boldly stepped forward, prompt- ing the two Olympic champions to smile at each other and fall in behind her. In response, the crowd jumped to its feet. “To look around at a whole arena standing
there looking at us, that stood out the most,” Gerli said. “You mean the standing ovation?” Gerli was
asked. “Well, no,” she said. “We both know they
were just stretching.” Moments before being introduced, PSA
President Jimmie Santee joked with brother Da- vid Santee, who was fighting back tears while
“No matter how many champions
I worked with, to be acknowledged and remembered is a wonderful thing. To be honored by your peers is very rewarding. From my first coach, Gene Turner, to the many kindnesses I’ve received through the years, I am very humbled and thankful.”
— RICKY HARRIS
(l-r) David Santee, left, and his brother Jimmie Santee ham it up with a selfie prior to David’s on-ice induction; Anne Gerli receives a standing ovation as she walks onto the ice to be honored, with Olympic champion Sarah Hughes applauding her special moment; Olympic champion Scott Hamilton represents choreography great Ricky Harris, holding up her hall-of-fame medal to the cheers of the crowd; Ricky Harris.
feeling the enormity of the moment. When his name was called, David and Jimmie took each other’s arm, stepped onto the ice and posed for an exaggerated selfie. “It was actually my idea to take the selfie,”
“With all those people who are in [the hall], I just don’t feel like I should be there. There are such good people, such good skaters. I feel like I’m out of my league.”
— ANNE GERLI
David said. “I was feeling a bit nervous and want- ed to lighten the mood.” Te crowd loved it, perhaps because the San-
tee boys, both U.S. medalists, have been known for their hijinks since their competitive days. Co- incidently, those early days included skating with the man who now would place the medal around David’s neck. “Having Sam Auxier as president present
me with the hall-of-fame medal was, in his words, ‘surreal,’ because we grew up skating together in Chicago,” David Santee said. It was a full day of events for the inductees
and their families, culminating in a celebratory reception that stretched well into the early morn- ing.
“Te on-ice induction ceremony and re-
ception were magical, taking you back in time as though you were literally there,” said Dr. Larry Mondschein, the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame nominating committee chair. “What was made clear throughout the presentations and ac- ceptance speeches was the love and devotion each new inductee has for figure skating.”
SKATING 33
JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
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